UAE CV Format – How to Make a Resume That Gets Interview Calls
Hiring in the UAE moves fast. Recruiters scan your CV in seconds, ATS filters screen out poor formats, and small mistakes can cost you interviews. This guide shows the exact UAE-standard CV layout, powerful summary examples for common roles, whether to send Word or PDF, the mistakes to avoid, and a clean editable sample you can copy today.
UAE-Standard CV Layout (1–2 pages)
- Header: Full Name | Mobile (WhatsApp) | Email | City (e.g., Dubai, Abu Dhabi) | LinkedIn | Visa Status (e.g., Visit Visa till 15 Dec 2025) | Notice Period.
- Professional Title: Align with target role (e.g., “Sales Executive – FMCG | Key Accounts”).
- Profile Summary (5–7 lines): Your value proposition + achievements + industry keywords.
- Core Skills (8–12): Role-relevant, ATS-friendly phrases (bulleted or in a 2–3 column list).
- Experience: Reverse-chronological. Each role with 3–6 impact bullets (numbers, %s, AED).
- Education & Certifications: Degree, institute, year (or “in progress”), licenses.
- Tools & Systems: CRMs, ERPs, POS, PMS, BI tools, programming stacks—keep it precise.
- Awards & Achievements (optional): Only measurable or noteworthy wins.
- Languages: English (Fluent), Arabic (Basic), Hindi/Nepali (Native) etc.
- References: “Available upon request” (unless asked to include).
Tip: Headshot is optional in the UAE. If you add one, keep it professional, neutral background, passport-style.
Strong Summary Examples (Copy & Adapt)
Sales (Retail / FMCG / B2B)
“Sales Executive with 6+ years in FMCG across Dubai & Abu Dhabi, delivering 28% YoY growth and expanding key accounts (Carrefour, Lulu). Skilled in route-to-market, trade marketing, and merchandising. Consistently exceed quarterly targets (AED 1.2M+). CRM-driven pipeline building, strong negotiation, and UAE driving license.”
Accountant (General / AP / AR)
“Detail-oriented Accountant with 5 years in UAE handling AP/AR, reconciliations, VAT filing, and month-end close under IFRS. Improved DSO by 14% and automated bank reconciliation. Proficient in Tally, QuickBooks, and SAP. Strong audit support and compliance focus.”
Hotel (Front Office / F&B / Reservations)
“Guest-centric Front Office Associate with 4+ years in 4- & 5-star properties (Dubai Marina). Expertise in Opera PMS, upselling, and VIP handling; maintained 92% guest satisfaction and reduced check-in time by 30%. Confident communicator in English, Hindi, and basic Arabic.”
IT (Support / Systems / QA / Development)
“IT Support Engineer with 6+ years in Windows/Mac environments, O365, Azure AD, and network troubleshooting (L1/L2). Resolved 95% tickets within SLA and led migration projects. Strong documentation, ITIL mindset, and stakeholder communication.”
Admin / HR Coordinator
“Efficient Admin & HR Coordinator with 5 years’ UAE experience in onboarding, payroll support, GRN/PO processing, and vendor coordination. Digitized records to reduce processing time by 40%. MS Office advanced; known for reliability and confidentiality.”
Word vs PDF – Which Should You Send in the UAE?
- PDF: Best for preserving layout and preventing accidental edits. Ideal when uploading to job portals or emailing HR/recruiters.
- Word (.docx): Some UAE recruiters ask for editable files to pass internally or add notes. Keep a clean .docx ready.
- Best practice: Maintain both. If not specified, send PDF and mention “Editable Word version available on request.”
Mistakes That Kill Interviews (and How to Fix Them)
ATS Rejection
- Using images, tables, or fancy templates that break parsing. → Use simple headings, bullet points, standard fonts.
- Missing keywords from the job ad. → Mirror the job description (skills, tools, certifications).
- Saving as image-based PDF. → Always export a text-selectable PDF.
Formatting Issues
- Too long (3–5 pages). → Keep to 1–2 pages focusing on recent, relevant impact.
- Inconsistent fonts, crowded margins. → 11–12pt for body (this page is 14px), clear spacing, clean section titles.
- Generic objective statements. → Replace with achievement-driven summary.
Content Gaps
- No UAE details. → Add visa status, location, notice period, driving license (if applicable).
- Responsibilities only. → Convert to results with numbers (revenue, cost saved, SLA, NPS, occupancy).
- Typos & email issues. → Proofread and use a professional email.
Editable CV Sample Structure (Copy/Paste)
FULL NAME Dubai, UAE | +971 XXXXXXXX (WhatsApp) | you@email.com | LinkedIn.com/in/yourname Visa: Visit Visa (valid till 15 Dec 2025) | Notice Period: Immediate
PROFESSIONAL TITLE
Sales Executive – FMCG | Key Accounts | Trade Marketing
PROFILE SUMMARY
Sales professional with 6+ years in UAE growing revenue across modern trade & key accounts.
Delivered 28% YoY growth, built AED 1.2M+ pipeline, and improved shelf share by 18%.
Skilled in negotiation, forecasting, CRM pipeline, and route-to-market execution.
CORE SKILLS
Key Account Management | Prospecting | CRM (HubSpot/Salesforce) | Forecasting | Trade Marketing
Merchandising | Negotiation | Route-to-Market | Reporting & Analytics | MS Excel Advanced
EXPERIENCE
Sales Executive – FMCG | ABC Foods LLC, Dubai | Jan 2022 – Present
• Grew revenue by 28% YoY across Carrefour & Lulu; expanded 12 new SKUs into modern trade.
• Negotiated annual promos worth AED 450K; improved shelf share by 18%.
• Built and maintained AED 1.2M+ pipeline; 90% on-time collections.
Sales Representative | Tasty Brands, Abu Dhabi | Feb 2020 – Dec 2021
• Opened 60+ new retail outlets in 10 months; exceeded quarterly target by 22%.
• Implemented weekly route plan improving call productivity by 25%.
EDUCATION
BBA, Marketing | Tribhuvan University | 2019
CERTIFICATIONS
Salesforce CRM Admin (2023) | MS Excel Advanced (Pivot, Power Query) (2024)
TOOLS & SYSTEMS
Salesforce, HubSpot, MS Office (Excel/PowerPoint), Power BI (basic), Google Workspace
LANGUAGES
English (Fluent) | Hindi (Fluent) | Nepali (Native) | Arabic (Basic)
REFERENCES
Available upon request
Role-Specific Bullet Ideas You Can Reuse
- Accountant: “Filed UAE VAT returns with zero penalties; reduced DSO by 14% through tighter credit control.”
- Hotel Front Office: “Maintained 92% guest satisfaction; upsold room upgrades generating AED 25K/month.”
- IT Support: “Resolved 95% tickets within SLA; led O365 migration for 180 users with zero downtime.”
- Admin/HR: “Digitized personnel files cutting retrieval time by 40%; coordinated onboarding for 50+ hires.”
How to Tailor Fast for UAE Jobs
- Highlight visa status & availability on top.
- Match title + keywords from the job description.
- Front-load measurable results from your most relevant role.
- Save two versions: ATS-friendly (no tables) and a styled PDF.
- Keep an editable .docx in case HR asks.
Ready to Apply? Find UAE Jobs Here
Explore verified opportunities and submit your CV at jobs.nepaleseinuae.com. New roles are added regularly across sales, accounting, hospitality, IT, and more. Make your profile once, apply faster, and get noticed by employers.
Quick Checklist Before You Send
- File name: FirstName_LastName_Role_UAE.pdf
- Header shows: city, WhatsApp, email, LinkedIn, visa, notice period
- Summary = value + numbers + keywords
- Experience bullets = impact first (saved, increased, reduced, delivered)
- Both PDF & Word ready
FAQ
Should I put a photo? Optional. If you include one, keep it professional and consistent with UAE norms.
One or two pages? 1 page if <5 years’ experience; 2 pages if needed for relevant achievements.
Cover letter? Helpful for competitive roles. Keep it concise (150–200 words) targeting the JD.